Top 20 Albums of 2008

Tune in Saturday December 27 from 6-9am to hear the New Wave Smackdown Top 20 albums of 2008. We'll count them down in reverse order. Here's my list:

Top 20 Albums of 2008
As heard on the New Wave Smackdown with Marc Hill, Saturdays 6-9am

1. Foals Antidotes (Sub Pop)
This British group may be lumped into the post-punk category, but it’s their sense of jazzy improvisation and musicianship that sets them apart from the pack. And the tunes are amazing from start to finish. The U.S. release adds a couple of bonus tracks, including indie dancehall stormer “Hummer.”

2. Royworld Man In The Machine (Virgin UK)
It seems that every year, I am blown away by at least one release that completely escapes the music media hype machine. Last year, it was Mr. Hudson & the Library. This time around, it’s UK group Royworld. Sure, it’s a crappy name for a band, but this guitar-based pop group is what all mainstream music should aspire to be. Sounds pretty unique to me, but might best be described as a mixture of Coldplay, Queen, Keane, and Electric Light Orchestra.

3. The Teenagers Reality Check (XL)
A concept album, in the sense that the songs work together to tell the story of a night of adolescent lust that ends with a morning hangover full of the bigger questions in life. The electronics and guitars along with a heavy French accent and a bawdy sense of humor make for a winning combination.

4. Santogold Santogold (Downtown)
NYC-based Santi White is the most versatile newcomer of 2008. This album mixes pop, R&B, indie, dancehall and even goth. She does more than pull it all off, she raises the bar for every female solo artist contemplating a 2009 release.

5. Friendly Fires Friendly Fires (XL)
I haven’t heard much buzz about this new UK band that fuses rock and electronics, but it’s full of tracks designed to burn up an indie disco dancefloor. At times, it’s what early Talking Heads might have sounded like if they had access to laptops.

6. Bloc Party Intimacy (Atlantic)
With this third quality album now under their belts, it’s time to let go of Depeche Mode as my official “favorite band of all time” and pass the mantle to this London-based post-punk band that refuses to sit still. Absolutely fearless and uncompromising, they go off in a million directions. In “Halo” they serve up my favorite track of the year, and the late addition of new track “Talons” to the CD release is simply a matter of icing on the cake.

7. TV On The Radio Dear Science (Geffen)
These NYC-based critical darlings liven up their droning art-rock with amazing melodies and tunes. This will likely top many year-end lists, and deservedly so.

8. Hadouken! Music For An Accelerated Culture (Atlantic UK)
Of all the “nu rave” bands (Klaxons, Do I Offend You, Yeah?) this British outfit is far and away the best. Essentially a kick-ass rock n’ roll record delivered mostly via computers and keyboards, Hadouken produces the sonic equivalent to one of those 80s teenage skin-flick comedies, where the parents are out of town for the weekend and the kids have a massive party that reduces the home and the surrounding neighborhood to rubble.

9. The Fashion The Fashion (Epic)
I started wearing this out in late 2007 when it was only available as a Danish import. Unfortunately, it appears the major label opportunity failed to produce any impression in America. Too bad, as this guitar-based group fuses huge sing-a-long choruses to hip-hop inspired beats, producing some of the catchiest songs you’ll hear anywhere.

10. Cut Copy In Ghost Colours (Modular/Interscope)
Australia is now the hottest spot on the musical planet for indie dance bands who apply a heavy dose of synthesizers. This second album released early in the year marries big tunes to all the booty-shaking.

11. Sons & Daughters This Gift (Domino)
The Johnny Cash tribute that was essentially their debut back in 2005 may have been fine for one album, but it was a creative cul-de-sac. This Scottish group surprised me with its sophomore effort: a muscular rock album full of memorable anthems.

12. Girl Talk Feed The Animals (Illegal Art)
Canadian Greg Gillis continues to insist he isn’t a DJ, but his releases sound exactly like what the best DJ mixes aspired to be before the age of digital editing. Laying hip-hop vocals over gazillions of samples from mostly 70s and 80s rock, this makes for both an engaging and head-nodding listen. Favorite part: mixing the guitar break in Heart’s “Magic Man” with Public Enemy’s Chuck D. Pure genius.

13. Cajun Dance Party The Colourful Life (XL UK)
New British indie band that got a lot of press because they are still in their teens, but really, this debut would be an impressive accomplishment from any age group. “Amylase” is another one of my favorite tracks this year.

14. The Cazals What Of Our Future (Kitsune UK)
Another excellent, British post-punk band, but this one gets extra points for their rousing cover of Spandau Ballet’s new romantic classic “To Cut A long Story Short.”

15. Van She V (Modular Australia)
Another fantastic Australian dance band (see Cut Copy, above) to keep you singing in the indie disco.

16. The Alps Something I Might Regret (Elusive UK)
This debut from London-based Brit-rockers filled up the New Wave Smackdown playlist earlier this year.

17. Neil Halstead Oh! Mighty Engine (Brushfire)
Once the main creative force behind Slowdive and Mojave 3, this Brit produces his second solo album. Great mix of dreamy pop songs and chilled-out lullabies.

18. Neon Neon Stainless Style (Lex)
Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys continues to do the unexpected. All-Welsh language album? Check. Quirky solo folk album? Check. Now you can also tick off pervy, synthesized electroclash.

19. Semifinalists 2 (V2 UK)
Second album from UK trio won’t blow you away upon first listen, but the consistent quality of these indie pop compositions is pretty hard to ignore.

20. Los Campesinos! Hold On Now, Youngster (Arts & Crafts)
Another band of British teenagers who are not only indie-cool, they also manage to bookend the year with two album releases: this debut back in February and their follow up in November. I don’t make it to many concerts, but I plan on getting an early start in 2009 at their January 24th gig at Exit/In.